WhatsApp explores custom status lists for close friends
With the latest update available on TestFlight, WhatsApp is working on a feature that will let users create status lists for their close friends. This feature will make it easier to share status updates with selected contacts without changing privacy settings every time.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature: | Status lists |
| Status: | Under development |
| Availability info: | This feature is currently in development and not yet available for beta testing. In the meantime, you can read this article for a sneak peek. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp is testing a redesigned top app bar with a logo! |
WhatsApp is developing custom audiences for status updates
In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.12.9 update, we announced a feature that lets users create custom audiences for status updates. This feature will allow users to create multiple lists to make status sharing more convenient. For example, one of these lists will include close friends. It is the same feature already available on Instagram, which lets users share content only with a selected followers. With close friends on WhatsApp, users will be able to choose who can view their exclusive status update easily.
The close friends list is currently under development
This feature is still under development on the Android app. WhatsApp is currently defining how the system will work in practice, including how users will create, manage, and update their close friends list for status sharing. However, WhatsApp is also developing the same feature for the iOS app. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.15.10.70 update, which is available on the TestFlight app, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature that lets users create custom status lists.
How WhatsApp status privacy currently works
As you can see from the attached image, WhatsApp is exploring the implementation of a feature that will let users create custom audiences for status updates. Although this feature is currently under development and set for release in a future update, it already aims to bring a new layer of convenience to the user experience. Status updates offer three different layer of privacy: My contacts, My contacts except, and Only share with. These options allow users to control who can see their status updates with greater precision. They make it easier for users to share content with either all contacts, excluded contacts, or a selected contacts.
Why switching audiences can feel inconvenient
The default privacy options already cover the most common situations for status updates. However, there may be situations where users want to share a status update with a completely different audience than usual. In these cases, they would need to temporarily adjust either the "My contacts except" or the "Only share with" setting. After posting, users would then have to manually restore their original configuration for future updates. This step could create inconvenience, especially for those users who frequently share status updates with different audiences.
A simpler way to share with custom audiences
In a future update, WhatsApp will address this issue by introducing custom audiences. With this feature, users will be able to create multiple personalized lists. For example, they could have separate lists for colleagues and family. This means they can easily choose who can see their status updates with greater precision. Additionally, users will simply select a saved audience instead of adjusting privacy settings every time. Lists can be named and reused, and the audience can see the name and the emoji assigned to the list. This will reduce the need to repeatedly update privacy settings.
The new Close Friends option and what makes it different
WhatsApp will also introduce a new default custom list called "Close Friends", making the feature immediately available to users without any setup. Like other custom audiences, people added to Close Friends can see that the status update is shared exclusively with them, but they will not be able to see who else is part of the list. Status updates shared with Close Friends will be clearly marked with a purple color, as well as other custom audiences. This color will make it easier for users to distinguish these exclusive posts from standard status updates.
Custom status lists are under development
The feature that lets users create custom status lists is under development, and it is expected to be released in a future update. WhatsApp is currently refining how the app can share status updates with custom audiences. Once testing is complete, WhatsApp will roll out this feature to select beta testers, making it simpler for users to share their status updates without updating their privacy settings.
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